I have such mixed thoughts about this trailer for Hours. It stars Paul Walker, he of the spectacularly wooden performances in the Fast/Furious franchise, as a new father trying to keep is infant daughter alive in the midst of Hurricane Katrina. And it looks like Walker is genuinely trying here, and occasionally pulling it off. On the other hand, it’s written and directed by Eric Heisserer, who previously wrote the remakes of The Thing and A Nightmare On Elm Street, so let’s keep our expectations sufficiently grounded, shall we?

Bigger problem: White people. I don’t mean as a general rule, although, you know. My point is that we once again have a film that centers on a disaster that struck a large minority population, yet chooses to focus on the trials and tribulations of white folks. This was my chief problem with The Impossible, an admittedly gorgeous and mostly well-done film that focused on a white European family traveling in Thailand during the 2004 tsunami. And I just have to keep asking why. Why can’t we tell someone else’s story for a change? I don’t deny that this is a story with compelling possibilities, but given that the number of poor minorities who were profoundly affected and devastated by Katrina, why must a white guy be the focus?

Yeah, I know. It’s Hollywood. But I’m getting tired of that same boring shrug that’s supposed to serve as an answer.

Anyway, here’s the trailer.

TK Burton is the Editorial Director. You may email him here or follow him on Twitter.